Statement on gambling application approval
Bowls Australia has sought and received approval from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to be the controlling body for betting on bowls events.
This proactive initiative was taken by Bowls Australia to be granted recognition as the sport’s controlling body in an effort to ensure that the ongoing integrity of national and international competitions are maintained.
As a result of this decision, Bowls Australia will be able to monitor any suspicious or unusual betting transactions on events played under its auspices, in alignment with the sport’s national match fixing and disciplinary policies.
This formal approval means there will be greater visibility about who has placed bets on national bowls competitions, by providing the national governing body with access to records about who is laying bets, so that it can enforce the policy of prohibiting people involved in the sport from betting on events.
There have been markets framed on bowls events by gambling agencies previously, historically our larger marquee events, including the Australian Open and more recently our Australian Premier League, without consultation with Bowls Australia and at the agency’s discretion.
This decision by Bowls Australia signals a significant shift in how betting transparency is approached in sports that have traditionally flown under the radar of major gambling oversight. By gaining access to data about who is placing bets on their events, the organization is actively reinforcing the integrity of the game and ensuring that players, coaches, and officials are kept accountable.
It’s a necessary move, especially in a digital age where online betting platforms have made wagering accessible from virtually anywhere, often without the knowledge or control of the sporting bodies involved. With this oversight in place, Bowls Australia can now take a more proactive stance against match-fixing and internal conflicts of interest—issues that have plagued even higher-profile sports.
The broader implications extend beyond lawn bowls. Across many countries, online betting has surged, with new markets opening up daily and bettors seeking both traditional and niche opportunities. On betting platforms, where information and access to licensed bookmakers are streamlined, users are increasingly turning to trusted sources to find reputable partners.
One such example is Agen bola, which connects bettors to regulated football betting agencies, ensuring compliance and security in transactions. As more sports organizations take cues from Bowls Australia’s approach, the betting ecosystem itself may evolve toward greater transparency and mutual respect between sports and the wagering communities that follow them.
As Bowls Australia has not, until now, been recognised as the controlling body for the sport, it has not been able to access any analytical data to understand the frequency or quantity of the bets placed, or whether any of the personnel involved were in conflict with the national match fixing policy.
The national match fixing policy articulates that relevant persons including Australian and BA contracted players or coaches, member state contracted players or coaches, national selectors, BA employed staff, squad support staff, participating players and officials are ineligible to bet, gamble or enter into any other form of financial speculation on any competition or on any event connected with Bowls Australia.
Click here to read Bowls Australia’s match fixing policy.
Click here to view Bowls Australia’s disciplinary policy.
